يَا مَنْ إذا عضّ الزّمان بِنَابِهِ

حُطَّت رِحال القصد في أَعْتَابِهِ

O you, when time bites us with its fangs

The caravans of purpose are dismantled by its teeth

إنّ الذي حمل الكتاب إِلَيْكُمُ

مِمّن سقاه العَزْلُ مَطْعَمَ صَابِهِ

Indeed, the one who brought the book to you

Is one who was made to drink estrangement's bitter draught

وبه تَعَذَّرَ قُوتُهُ إذا لم يكن

يدري سوى التبريز من أسبابِهِ

And by it his livelihood was hindered, when he knew no means

But pleading, however he tried to justify his reasons

وله جِوَارٌ حَجَّني بحُقُوقه

وَلَكَمْ صَلَى الأَحْشَا بِنَارِ عِتَابِهِ

And he has a neighbor who importuned me with favors

And how often he prayed against the unkind with fiery reproach

حتّى رسى هيجانُه في قدركم

وإليكمُ حسنُ الظّنون مشى بِهِ

Until his agitation found rest in your role

And to you good faith walked with him

فأتى وقال اكْتُبْ لمن عجز الورى

أن يظفروا لِعُلاَهُمُ بِمُشَابِهِ

So he came and said, write for those whom fate has incapacitated

To attain their glory through their peers

فكَتَبْتُ مُلْتَذًّا بِشَهْدِ خطابكم

مَعْ أنّني راجٍ لِنَيْل ثَوَابِه

So I wrote, allured by the sweetness of your discourse

Although I aspire to attain its reward

والله يُبْقِي مجدَكم حَرَماً له

عِزٌّ به يقف العُفَاةُ ببابه

And God will preserve your glory, a sanctuary for it

Honor by which the unruly halt at its door